gardes



A. w. GARDES 2,734,668

WEIGH BOX STRUCTURE HAVING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED DOORS FOR A FIBER HANDLING MACHINE .5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 14, 1956 Filed April 20, 1951 ll 1' I u /10 11* H H ii a 4 1511's 17 fGT Alf'rea 1A Gardens E LM/KM H755 Feb. 14, 1956 A. w. GARDES 2,734,663

WEIGH BOX STRUCTURE HAVING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED DOORS FOR A FIBER HANDLING MACHINE Filed April 20, 1951' 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 246 0 .45 s w 4T9 V 45 Z; ZZJ WIWWI: w

-20 i9 M Z1 Z1. 6

w ,V! M W -1 84b 16 n I Feb. 14, 1956 A. w ES 2,734,668

WEIGH BOX STRUCTURE HAVING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED Feb. 14, 1956 A. w. GARDES 2,734,668

WEIGH BOX STRUCTURE HAVING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED DOORS FOR A FIBER HANDLING MACHINE Filed April 20. 1951 s Sheets-Sheet 4 M Mmmlm p lfiI EWTET' 7 Alfred I V. Garaes A. w. GARDES 2,734,668

Feb. 14, 1956 WEIGH BOX STRUCTURE HAVING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED DOORS FOR A FIBER HANDLING MACHINE 5- Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 20, 1951 I N I Q g I a: Mini Alfred I/Y. Ganfea United States Patent WEIGH BOX STRUCTURE HAVING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED DOORS FOR A FIBER HANDLING MACHINE Alfred W. Gardes, Lebanon, Ind., assignor to Houdaille- Hershey of Indiana, Inc., a corporation of Indiana Application April 20, 1951, Serial No. 221,995

8 Claims. 01. 222-503 This invention relates generally to improvements in fiber handling machine and other textile equipment and more particularly to an improved weigh box structure for a fiber feeding and weighing machine similar to that described and claimed in the copending application of Bernard E. OConnor and Robert E. King, U. S. Serial No. 91,772, filed May 6, 1949, Patent No. 2,660,393, November 24, 1953.

In the weigh box structures heretofore provided, a pair of pivotally mounted hopper doors are frequently employed which are conventionally connected to the weigh box casing by means of a lengthy door hinge. Because a weigh box structure comprises a substantially rectangular casing and the hopper doors are generally mounted for movement around a longitudinally extending axis, the door hinges provided have necessarily extended the length of the casing. In practice, the doors are opened and closed so often that the hinges are subjected to unusual operating stresses and strains with the result that the hinge joint is subjected to distortions and mis-alignments interfering with the proper operation of the doors.

Moreover, because of the excessive length of the door hinge structures heretofore provided, replacement has been impracticable and in some cases, virtually impossible because the door hinge structures are frequently integrated in firm assembly with the weigh box casing by means of rivets or welding. Consequently, replacement of hopper doors renders, an entire feeding machine in operative and has required long lay-over periods and extensive overhauling operations.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a pair of longitudinally, spaced brackets are connected to the casing of the weigh box adjacent each side of the outlet opening. A bushing is removably inserted into each of the brackets and is locked in place by a suit able snap ring or the like, the bushings furnishing a bear ing journal for a rotatable pivot rod having a lever firmly connected to each end thereof. The levers are constructed to carry a hopper door for pivotal movement relative to the casing so that a pair of opposed hopper doors may be pivotally moved into abutting engagement with one another in registry with the outlet opening to close same. A motor means is provided to rotate the pivot rod, thereby concurrently moving both of the hopper doors between a closed and an open position.

The entire pivot rod and door structure provided in accordance with the principles of the present invention comprises an integral sub-assembly which may be readily removed from the weigh box with great convenience in the event that replacement is required or desired.

In the weigh box structures heretofore. provided, hinged hopper doors driven by various prime movers have frequently closed against the side walls of the box structure with the result that a slamming occurs tending to destroy weigh box is provided with yieldable side wall portions against which the hopper doors may close in engaging abutment. The provision of a weigh box so constructed precludes slamming action and greatly increases the effective life of the weigh box structure.

The present invention further contemplates the provision of an improved drive mechanism for selectively actuating the hopper doors between an open and closed position. The provision of hopper doors in the present invention being mounted for co-rotation with a pivot rod, facilitates the advantageous employment of a rotary drive mechanism including, for example, a rotary solenoid to selectively rotate the pivot rod associated with each hopper door through a predetermined angular displacement. In order to provide a driving connection between the rotary motor and the pivoted hopper doors, various types of linkage systems may be provided and the position of door stop can be selectively adjusted by varying the length of one or more of the linkage arms, thereby eliminating the necessity of providing special stop elements for the doors.

The use of a rotary drive mechanism further facilitates the use of a balancing arrangement whereby the pivoted doors may be counterbalanced and the rotary motor can be operated against a minimum load condition.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore to provide an improved weigh box structure for use with textile machinery which overcomes the deficiencies of the weigh box structures heretofore provided.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved weigh box structure fabricated from a reduced number of simplified elements and which is economical to produce and efficient in operation.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a hopper casing for a weigh box structure having yieldable side wall portions adapted to engagingly abut pivoted hopper doors.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved pivot connection for hopper doors whereby the necessity of providing a hinge structure is eliminated and whereby a hopper door sub-assembly may be connected to the hopper casing in removable assembly to facilitate replacement or repair.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a rotary drive mechanism for hopper doors.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a balanced linkage driving connection between a prime mover and a set of hopper doors.

Many other features, advantages and additional objects of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description which follows and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which preferred structural embodiments incorporating the principles of the present invention are shown by way of illustrative example.

Figure l is an elevational view of a fiber handling machine incorporating a weigh box structure provided in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 7 Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of one 'end of the weigh box structure;

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the weigh box structure;

Figure 4 is an enlarged broken side elevational view of the weigh box shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken on line V-V of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an end elevational view of a weigh box structure incorporating an alternative form of driving linkage;

Figure 7 is an end elevational view of a weigh box structure incorporating an alternative structural embodiment of driving linkage;

Figure 8 is an end'elevational view of a weigh box structure incorporating yet another form of rotary drive mechanism; and

Figure 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the weigh box structure shown in Figure 8.

As shown on the drawings:

Although the principles of the present invention are of general utility, they find a particularly useful application in connection with fiber handling apparatus such as'the fiber feeding and weighing machine indicated generally by the reference number 10 on Figure 1. The fiber handling machine 10 is of the type more particularly described in the copending application of Bernard E. OCon; nor and Robert E. King, Serial No. 91,772, filed May 6, 1949, and is used to open and flutf quantities of fibers prior to blending of the fibers, or as one step of the. The fibers are discharged process of blending fibers. from the fiber handling machine 10 through a discharge. opening located superjacent the weigh box structure 11 provided in accordance with the principlesof the present invention whereupon small increments may be automatically weighed and discharged on to a conveyor surface for transit to a subsequent blending station. The present invention more particularly involves structural improve ments made to the weigh box structure.

Referring more particularly to Figures 2 and 3, itwill bev notedthat the weigh box structure 11. includes a hopper casing 12 comprising a single sheet of relatively thin metal bent into a substantially rectangular shape and having the respective endmarginsengaging oneanother to form a butt joint 13.

To rigidify the hopper casing and to provide a frame support for same, a pair of rolled angle ironsare shaped into a substantially rectangular configuration and are. connected. to the upper and lower portions of the. hopper casing 12 to form an upper angle 14 and a lower .angle'16.

The respective end portions of,the angles. 14 and 16 engage one another and form an abutment joint, one of whichcan be seen on Figures 2 and 4 inconnection with the angle 14 and which is indicated by the reference character 1441. The abutment joint formed by each ofthe angles 14 and 16 is preferably located on the side of the. hopper casing oppositethe. abutment joint 13.

In order to suspend the weigh box 1 1 from an appropriate weighing mechanism carried in .the fiber handling machine 10, clamping means. 17 may, be provided on opposite ends of the, Weigh box 11 in firtnassembly with the angle 14, each of the clamping means 17 firmly gripping a flexible suspension strip 18.

The top and bottornof the hopper casing 12 are open to form an inlet and an outlet, respectively, for the weigh. box 11. Adjacent the outlet and at the respective ends of the weigh box is provided a generally triangular wall portion, 18v to which is. connected a flexible margin 19 consisting ofa suitable yieldable material such as a Woven fabriconthe like. By providing a yieldable margin 19 on the wall portionsflS, the hopper doors provided to close the outlet of the weigh box 11 close against same, thereby precluding slamming. The material from which the margin 19 is made is preferably of a consistency sufiicient to form an'jadequate closure together with the doors, thereby to retain the fibers inthe hopper casing.12.

To'selectively close the outlet ofthe' weighboxfll, a pair of hopper doors 20 and 21 are provided. Each of the doors 20 and 21 comprises a piece of sheet, metal suitably flanged along the marginal portions thereof to add rigidity, there being end flangesZfia and 211i as well. as longitudinally extending flanges 20b and 21b.

Attached to the end flanges 20a and 21a at one end of the weigh box 11 is a lever 22 having an arm portion 22:: connected to the flange 20a by meansof a pair of fasteners 23 and a lever 24 having an arm portion 24a connected to the flange 21a by means of a pair of fas teners 26. The lever 22 is welded to the end of a pivot rod 27 as at 28 and the lever 24 is welded to a pivot r'o'd'29 as at 30'. At the other end of each of the doors 20 and 21, an additional lever arm is provided, for example, the lever 31 shown in Figure 4 and each is welded to the end of the respective pivot rod 27 or 29.

In order to support and journal each of the pivot rods 27 and 29 on the weigh box, a plurality of brackets 32 are employed, each of the brackets 32 being substantialiy L s'haped and having one leg connected to the bottom angle 16 by a plurality of fasteners 33. Two of the brackets 32 are mounted on each side of the outlet in coaxiablongitudinally spaced alignment. The short leg of each of the brackets 32 is slotted as at 35 to receive one of the pivot rods 29 or 27. A bushing 34 is provided with, an, annular flange 36 to abut against one side of the bracket 32 and may be inserted into the slot 35. The bushing 34 is provided with an annular recess 37, which. lies, in spaced relationship to the flange 3.6;a nd which receives a snap ring 38 to abut against the other side. ofjthefbrjacket 32, thereby retaining the bushing 3,4 :in rmassembi with the bracket 32.

Eachfo'fjthe. bushings 34 journals one of the pivot rods 27 and 2 9, thereby rotatably mounting the door structure in readily removable assembly on the weigh box '11. i

Because each of the; doors 2tl and 21 virtually form an extension of the arm portions 22a and 24a of the levers 22 and 24, respectively, the weight of the doors 20 and 21 tends to produce a turning torque about the.

axis of rotation extending through the pivot rods 27 and 29. A

In order to adjustably counter-balance the weight of the doors 20 and 21, a weight arm 40 is connected to the pivot 'rod 27 and a weight arm 41 is connected to the pivot rod 29 and is arranged to extend radially out.- wardly of the respective pivot axis at a different angle than the arm portions 22a and 24a of the levers 22 and 24. A weight 42 and a weight 43 are mounted. onthe weight arms 40 and 41 respectively. The weight 42 may' be locked inadjusted position by means of a set screw 44 and the weight 43 may be locked in adjusted position by a set screw 45, thus, in order to adjust the counter-balancing effect, the weights 42 and 43 may be adjusted radially' inwardly and outwardly along the lengths of the weight arms 40 and 41.

Each of the levers 22 and 24 is further provided with an extending. arm' portion 22bv and 24b. A link. 47 is pivotally connected to the. arm portion 221; by means of a pivot pin 48 and a link 49 is pivotally connected to the arm portion 24b by'a pivot pin 50.

At the other end of the link 47, an adjustment eyebolt 51 is threadedly received by an apertured boss carried by the link 47 and is, in turn, pivotally connected;

to one endof a crossarm 52 by means of a pivot pin 53.

Atthe otherend of lthe 49, an adjustment eyebolt.

S4' 'isTthreadedIy received and is, in turn, pivotally con-,

nected to the otherend of the cross arm 52 by means of a pivot pin 56.

The cross arrn 52 is connected for co-rotation withav power take-oif-shaft 57 by means of a cotter pin 58, the power take-off shaft 57 being driven by a rotary drive motor, taking the. form inv this particular embodiment of a rotary solenoid 59.

A resilient biasing means taking the form of a coil spring. 60-is connected at one end to the. upper angle 14 and at the other end to the pivot pin 56 thereby to normally urge the doors 20-and 21 into closed position. By actuation. of-the rotary solenoid 59, the power take-off shaft 57 is angularly displaced through a predetermined distance thereby rotating the cross bar 52 and displacing the links 47 and 49 to pivotally rotate the docirsj ZQ and 21 around the axisOfthepivQt rods 27 and 2'9,

iifi ll'? sfi adsf tb hat r pe l q s e rhalansina ofthe doors 20 and' 21 by means offacljustablyposition? ing the weights 42 and 43 will produce a condition of substantially exact balance in the door construction so that the turning eifort exerted by the rotary solenoid 59 required to open the doors 20 and 21 may be minimized.

Moreover, the effective length of the linkage systems between the rotary solenoid 59 and the respective doors 20 and 21 may be selectively adjusted by threadedly adjusting the eye bolts 51 and 54. By adjusting the effective length of the linkage connections, the relative stop positions of the doors 20 and 21 may be closely regulated without necessitating the use of special abutment type stop members to physically engage the doors.

In the embodiment of Figures 1-4, the rotary solenoid 59 is mounted in firm assembly with the hopper casing 12 by means of a vertically extending subframe 61 carried between the upper angle 14 and the lower angle 16 and connected thereto by a plurality of fasteners 62.

In Figure 6 is shown an alternative form of linkage arrangement wherein a rotary motor comprising a rotary solenoid 63 is firmly attached to the hopper casing 12 and the power take-off shaft 64 of the rotary solenoid 63 is used to angularly drive a link arm 66 pivotally connected at one end by means of a pivot pin 67 to a connecting link 68. The connecting link 68 ties adjoining ends of a pair of links 69 and 70 by means of a common pivot pin 71, the link 69 being pivotally connected to the arm portion 22b of the lever 22 by means of the pivot pin 48 and the link 70 being pivotally connected to the arm portion 24b of the lever 24 by means of the pivot pin 50.

Upon angular rotation of the rotary solenoid 63, the link arm 66 is rotated moving the connecting link 68 through a generally vertical path to jack-knife the links 69 and 70 thereby pivotally rotating the doors 20 and 21 around the pivot axes of the pivot rods 27 and 29, respectively.

To regulate the stop position of the linkage provided in the embodiment of Figure 6, a suitably threaded aperture is provided in the extending leg of the lower angle 16 to receive an adjusting stud 72 engageable with the linkage at the point of juncture of the links 68, 69 and 70. A lock nut 73 is provided to maintain the adjustments effected by selectively positioning the adjustment stud 72.

In Figure 7, a cross arm 76 is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 77 carried by the hopper casing 12. One end of the cross arm 76 is pivotally connected to an adjusting eye bolt 78 by a pivot pin 79. A link arm 80 is pivotally connected to the arm portion 22b of the lever 22 by the pivot pin 48 and threadedly receives the adjustment eye bolt 78 by means of an appropriately threaded aperture formed in a boss 81 carried by the link arm 80. A coil spring 82 is connected between the upper angle 14 and the cross arm 76 to normally bias the doors 20 and 21 into closed position.

The other end of the cross arm 76 is pivotally con nected to an adjustment eye bolt 83 by means of a pivot pin 86 and a link arm 87 carrying a boss 88 having a threaded aperture therein to threadedly receive the adjustment eye bolt 83 is pivotally connected to the arm portion 24b of the lever 24 by means of the pivot pin 50.

A rotary solenoid 89 is mounted on the hopper casing 12 and includes a power take-off shaft 90 to rotatably drive a link arm 91 pivotally connected to a connecting link 92 by means of a pivot pin 93. The other end of the connecting link 92 is pivotally connected to the cross arm 76 by means of the pivot pin 86.

In operation, the rotation of the rotary solenoid 89 will angularly displace the link arm 91, which angular displacement will be transmitted to the cross arm 76 whereupon the link arms 80 and 87 will pivotally displace the doors 20 and 21 about the pivot axis of the pivot rods 27 and 29 respectively.

In order to adjust selectively the stop positions of the doors 20 and 21 with the drive mechanism provided in 6 the embodiment of Figure 7, the adjustment eye bolts '18 and 83 may be relatively positioned in the bosses 81 and 88 of the links and 87 respectively to regulate the effective length of the linkage.

In the embodiments of Figures 8 and 9, a separate rotary motor such as a rotary solenoid 94 is provided for the pivot rod 27 and a separate rotary solenoid 96 is provided for the pivot rod 50. A bracket 97 fastened to the lower angle 16 by means of a plurality of fasteners 98 is used to support the solenoid 94 fastened thereto by fastening means 99 and a bracket 100 connected to the lower angle 16 by a plurality of fasteners 101 supports the solenoid 66 fastened thereto by fasteners 102. The power take-elf shaft of each of the solenoids 94 and 96 is indicated at 103 and is directly coupled to one of the pivot rods as shown in Figure 9, a U-shaped bracket 104 carrying a pin 106 directly coupled to a pivot rod 29a.

In each of the embodiments of Figures 6, 8 and 9, the rotary solenoids 94, 96 and 63 will effect the desired pivotal displacement of the doors 20 and 21 upon moving through a stroke.

In the embodiments of Figures l-4 and Figure 7, the rotary solenoids 59 and 89 will effect the desired dis placement of the doors 20 and 21 upon moving through a stroke of 45.

In each of the alternative linkage embodiments shown in Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9, it, will be appreciated that the door assemblies are identical with that described in connection with the embodiment of Figures l-4, each of the door units comprising a separate sub-assembly readily removable from the hopper casing 12 and closely balanced through proper adjustment of the counterweights 42 and 43.

Although various minor structural modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of this patent, all such modifications as reasonablyand properly come Within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a hopper door construction, a pivot rod, an arm member on each end of said pivot rod, one arm member having oppositely extending portions extending radially outwardly of the axis of said pivot rod, a door to close an opening and carried between said arm members, said door connected to said one arm member by one of said extending portions, and a torque motor having apivotal driving connection with said. one arm member by the other of said extending portions to selectively rotate said rod and said door to open said door.

2. In a hopper door construction as defined in claim 1, a weight arm extending radially outwardly of said pivot rod and a weight movably adjustable on said arm to selectively counter-balance said door.

3. In a hopper door construction as defined in claim 2, said torque motor comprising a rotary solenoid, said driving connection comprising a link arm pivotally connected at one end to said rotary solenoid and pivotally connected at the other end to said other extending portion of said one arm member.

4. A weighing hopper for a fiber feeding and weighing machine comprising a sheet of metal bent to form a closed loop and constituting the side and end walls of a weigh box, each of said end walls including a triangular-1y shaped depending portion forminga hopper door outlet, an angle iron encircling said weigh box at the upper and lower margins thereof, said angle irons and said sheet each having their respective free ends joined to one another at opposite sides of said weigh box, a pair of coaxially aligned longitudinally spaced brackets carried by said lower margin angle ironon each side of said hopper door outlet, a pivot rod having a lever arm on each end thereof and a pair of bushings slidably mounted thereon for each side of said weigh box, said brackets each having a slotted portion receiving said pivot rod and to removably receive one of said bushings to journal and sup ai -races port said pivot rods, means to lock said bushings in said bracketsiaft'er assembly therewith, a door for eachpivot rod carried between said lever arms, said doors being movable with said pivot rods to close said opening, a flex ible yieldable margin on each of said depending portions to abuttingly engage said doors in closed position and a rotary motor means to selectively rotate each of said pivot rods and said door.

5; A weigh box construction comprising a hopper casing having a bottom. discharge opening, a bracket connected to the hopper casing adjacent opposite ends of said discharge opening, and a removable door assembly including a pivot rod extending between said opposed brackets, a bushing on each end. of said pivot rod and being removably inserted into each of said brackets, said bushings lying in 'coaxially spaced alignment, locking.

means retaining eachof saidbushings after assembly with said brackets, said pivot rod being carried and journaled by said bushings for pivotal movement relative to said hopper casing, an arm connected to each end of said pivot rod, and a door carried between said arms and being pivotal-1y movable relative to said hopper casing to open and. close said opening, a rotary drive motor means on said hopper casing, said pivot rod having means providing a connection with said motor means to open and close said door.

6. A weigh box construction comprising a hopper casing having a bottom discharge opening, brackets connected to the hopper casing adjacent opposite ends of said discharge opening, and a removable door assembly comprisinga pivot rod extending between said opposed brackets, a bushing on each end of said pivot rod and being removably inserted into each of said brackets, said bushings together lying in coaxially spaced alignment, locking means retaining each of said bushings after assembly with said brackets, said pivot rod being carried and 'journaled by fsaid bushings for pivotal movement, an arm connected tocach end of said pivot rod, a door carried between said arms and being pivotally movable relative to said hopper casing to open and close said opening, a motor carried by the hopper casing, a link pivotally connected to one end of said arm and adapted to be pivotally connected to said motor, and a spring connected to said link and to said hopper casing normally biasing said door closed.

7. 'A weigh box construction comprising a hopper casing. having abottom discharge opening, a pair of hopper doors to selectively close said opening, arms at the respective ends of said doors, a pivot rod for each door, each of said rodsbeing connected at its respective ends to one of said arms, a plurality of brackets connected to said weigh box each having an open slot formed therein to receive a corresponding one of said pivot rods, there being one bracket adjacent the opposite ends of each of said rods, a bushing removably inserted in said slot of each of saidbrackets and carried by a corresponding one of. said:

rods, means locking each of said bushings in said brackets after assembly therewith, respective pairs of said bushings being in coaxially spaced alignment for journalingeach of said rods in said brackets, a counter-weightconnected to each of said rods, and projecting angularly relative thereto to counter-balance the weight of the corresponding door carried by each of said rods, and a rotary motor means to selectively angularly displace said pivot rods a bushing removably inserted in said slot of each of said brackets and carried by a corresponding one ofsaid rods, means locking each of said bushings in said brackets after assembly therewith, respective pairs of said bushings being, in coaxially spaced alignment for journaling each of said rods, a counter-weight connected to each of said rods, and projecting angularly relative thereto to counter-balance the weight of the corresponding door carried by each of said rods, a rotary motor, a pair of links each having a pivotal driven connection at one end with said rotaryl motor, the other end of each of said links being pivotally connected to one end of oneof said arms for each respective door, and a spring connected to said Weigh box and to said links, whereupon rotation of said motor will pivotally displace said doors against the bias of said spring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 295,233 Dall Mar. 18, 1884 428,731 Singer May 27, 1890 560,659 Stern May 26, 1896 769,805 Rosenbaum Sept. 13, 1904 777,950 Huenergardt Dec. 20, 1904 941,354 Border Nov. 30, 1909 996,224 Dennis June 27, 1911 1,028,672 DeBruycker June 4, 1912 1,191,663 Candee July 18, 1916 1,202,259 Babcock Oct. 24, 1916 1,222,603 Clapper Apr. 17, 1917 1,414,870 Fisher May 2, 1922 1,612,590 Lucka et a1 Dec. 28, 1926 1,851,431 Hynes Mar. 29,1932 2,070,349 Woodrufl' Feb. 9, 1937 2,166,484 Carlson July 18, 1939 2,445,501 Vagim July 20, 1948' 2,611,465 Simon Sept. 23, 1952 

